The Dirt

In this post, Lauren Pharr suggests three ways to make the outdoors more inclusive for all.

RD compares his livestock operation to the pieces of a puzzle. Some pieces take a long time to fit in place, such as the six years that he has invested to develop relationships with neighbors.

In her current job at NRCS and in her volunteer work Heather Medina Sauceda continues her passion for outreach to underserved communities, tribes, and youth. She feels a responsibility to help others, just as people encouraged her to reach her goals. Heather says she “always has one hand reaching up with the other extended below to help others rise to their next level. If a door gets closed, jump through the window! Don’t give up.”

Both Anthropogenic Noise and Artificial Light at Night bring about some serious impacts to wildlife, but we can make informed choices to reduce those impacts.

As a youngster exploring the wild forests and streams of his home, Alan Ayres developed an appreciation for the abundant waters and lush vegetation that gave him comfort. Now he is working with The Confluence to create a sustainable office building in downtown Corvallis.

When asked what conservation challenges she faces, Jenny says the biggest one is when she feels that what she does doesn’t do enough. “Then I remember the butterfly effect. Success is seeing the work that BSWCD does.”

“Conservation gives production a richer purpose,” Ed Easterling says. In 2012, Ed founded Crestmont Land Trust (CLT), a non-profit land trust with a mission to own and manage self-sustaining habitat with a charitable, recreational, educational, and research focus.

Native plants brought the Pauls to Benton SWCD after they moved to Corvallis in 2006. By 2012, Jerry had revolutionized the order fulfillment process at the Native Plant Sale.

As a Garfield Elementary School teacher, Karrie Woodruff became part of the BSWCD community through Salmon Watch in the fall of 2017. Since fewer Spanish-language resources exist, she creates engaging, hands-on lessons that build from what students know from their surroundings and integrate multicultural perspectives.

Andy Gallagher first came to Benton SWCD looking for conservation-minded people in the Willamette Valley.

Matt and Serene Mellenthin know how lucky they are. Their spot on the Willamette River is their paradise.

“The world gives us so very much. It gives us our life. All of our neighbors — the ants, spiders, salmon, geese, sharks, seals, cottonwoods, chestnuts — are doing the real work of keeping this planet going. Isn’t it time we did our share?” –Derrick Jensen, from “Endgame: Resistance” The WVRLC is always on the